Murder in the Rue Dumas

Review: Chief Magistrate Antoine Verlaque and Commissioner Bruno Paulik investigate a murder in Aix-en-Provence, a small university town located in the south of France, in Murder in the Rue Dumas, the second mystery in this series by M. L. Longworth.

Dr. Georges Moutte was the dean and director of the theology department at I'Universite d'Aix. On the night to celebrate his retirement, announce his successor, and choose a student to receive the prestigious Dumas Award, Moutte stuns the invitees to his party by stating that he would not retire, now or in the near future, and furthermore there would be no student award. The three potential successors are understandably disappointed; they would have received a significant increase in salary, plus be able to live rent free in a fabulous apartment in a seventeenth century mansion, courtesy of the Dumas Foundation. Also disappointed are the four students eligible to receive the award, which would have paid for virtually all their expenses as well as ensuring a bright future for one of them. But while a few expressed anger at the sudden change in plans, no one appeared outraged enough to commit murder. And yet, Moutte's body was found dead in his office the following morning.

Verlaque and Paulik, together with Dr. Marine Bonnet, a law professor at the university as well as Verlaque's love interest, find no shortage of suspects. Moutte played professors and students off each other, promising something to one and then backing down. But even with motives aplenty, there is scant evidence to suggest that any of the seven people, who attended Moutte's party are guilty of murder.

Murder in the Rue Dumas is a delightful academic-themed, village-style mystery, with characters that are interesting in and of themselves … but also, and maybe more so, from an interpersonal perspective. Verlaque and Paulik clearly respect what each brings to the investigation, while Verlaque and Marine Bonnet make for an amusing couple. The suspects are all credibly drawn, and make for a compelling murder mystery in a storyline that proceeds along at a methodical and steady pace.

Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Murder in the Rue Dumas.

Acknowledgment: Penguin Group provided a copy of Murder in the Rue Dumas for this review.